Inklingo

How to Say "you keep" in Spanish

English → Spanish

guardas

/GWAHR-dahs//ˈɡwaɾðas/

verbA1general
Use 'guardas' when you are retaining or holding onto a physical object or information.
A person holding a small wooden treasure chest tightly in their hands.

Examples

¿Tú guardas el pan en la nevera?

Do you keep the bread in the fridge?

Siempre guardas tus documentos en esa carpeta.

You always save your documents in that folder.

Si guardas silencio, podemos escuchar los pájaros.

If you keep quiet, we can hear the birds.

The 'Tú' Form

In Spanish, adding an '-s' to the end of regular verbs like 'guarda' shows you are talking directly to one person (friends or family).

Saving Money vs. Saving Files

Mistake: “Using 'ahorrar' for computer files.”

Correction: Use 'guardar' for files or objects. 'Ahorrar' is specifically for saving money or energy for the future.

mantienes

/mahn-tee-EH-nehs//manˈtjenes/

verbA2general
Use 'mantienes' when you are maintaining a certain condition, state, or quality.
A person carefully balancing a tall stack of colorful wooden blocks to keep them from falling.

Examples

Tú siempre mantienes tu habitación limpia.

You always keep your room clean.

Si mantienes esa actitud, llegarás lejos.

If you maintain 그 attitude, you will go far.

Mantienes a tu familia con mucho esfuerzo.

You support your family with a lot of effort.

The 'You' Form

This is the informal 'tú' form of the verb. Use it when talking to friends, family, or people your own age.

The Spelling Change

Notice how the middle 'e' in the base word 'mantener' changes to 'ie' in 'mantienes'. This is a common pattern in Spanish to help with the rhythm of the word.

Don't forget the 'i'

Mistake: “mantenes”

Correction: mantienes (except in some regions like Argentina/Uruguay where 'mantenés' is used).

sigues

/see-gess//ˈsi.ɣes/

verbA2general
Use 'sigues' followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ando/-iendo) to indicate that someone continues to do something.
A storybook illustration of a child running continuously down a winding path that disappears into the distance.

Examples

¿Sigues trabajando en el mismo lugar?

Are you still working in the same place?

Si sigues practicando, vas a mejorar mucho.

If you keep practicing, you're going to improve a lot.

¡Sigue así! Lo estás haciendo genial.

Keep it up! You're doing great.

The "Keep Doing Something" Formula

To say you 'keep doing' something, Spanish has a super useful pattern: seguir + [verb ending in -ando or -iendo]. For example, 'You keep talking' is Sigues hablando.

Forgetting the Stem Change

Mistake: “Sometimes learners say 'seguies' because the base verb is `seguir`.”

Correction: Remember that `seguir` is a 'boot verb'. The 'e' changes to 'i' for most present tense forms, like `sigo`, `sigues`, `sigue`. The `nosotros` (we) form stays normal: `seguimos`.

Confusing 'sigues' with 'mantienes' or 'guardas'

The most common mistake is using 'mantienes' or 'guardas' when you actually mean 'you continue to do something'. Remember, 'sigues' is used specifically for ongoing actions, not for maintaining a state or possession.

Related Translations

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